Kindergartners talk about their first year

As the school year comes to a close, a mixture of emotions can be found in the hallways as friends sign each other’s yearbooks, kids hug and promise to spend time together over the summer, and students gather to perform their much-anticipated year-end programs.  

Kellie Parkin

Six-year-old Trae Smith gives his mom Chris Smith a hug after the CES kindergarten program last Friday.

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School can be an eye-opening experience, especially for kindergartners. Six-year-old Trae Smith, of Chiefland Elementary School, said it was exactly what he expected, and he loved everything about it, all year long.  “I love to learn,” he said with gusto.

“My favorite part was that I learned how to read sight words,” Trae said.

“I really like my teacher, too. She taught me stuff,” he said of Ms. Jamie Leier.  “She showed how to help your friends when they’re hurt, how to pay attention and what you’re supposed to pay attention to; like only to your teacher.”

Trae said that when he started kindergarten in August, he was “a little bit shy.”

“Okay, I was super, duper shy,” he said correcting himself. “But I’m not shy now, not at all.”

Trae said he looks forward to first grade. “I’m excited about learning newer stuff.”

Not all first-time students feel the same about school, though. Kalie Osteen, who celebrated her sixth birthday on Friday, loves playing at recess and seeing her friends but doesn’t particularly care for the actual school work part. “I didn’t like doing the work. I have a lot of work still in my seat pocket,” Kalie admitted. “I’d rather play games.”

Kalie said her favorite part of school is playing the computer games that teach numbers and letters.

Kalie said she is very excited for the year to be over. “I’m happy it’s summer. I don’t like school. I like my friends, and I’ll see them next year in first grade.”